Advertising device



spr. 13, 1932. J. c. HOQCK 1,877,463

ADVERTISING DEVICE Filed May 2e, 1952 5 sheets-sheet 1 IN1/EN TOR.'

J. C. Houcl, u. TM

077/ A TTORNE YS.

Sept. 13, 1932. J, Q HOUCK 1,877,463

ADVERT-I S ING DEVI C E Filed May `26, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TT ORNEYS.

Sept- 13, 1932- J. c. HQucK I 1,877,463

ADVERTIS ING DEVICE Filed May V26, 14952 5 Sheets-Sham 3 A TTORNE YS.

J c. Houcf "Wef'mf Sept. 13,1932. 1 Q HOUCK 1,877,463

v ADVERTISING DEVICE Filed May 25, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVEN TOR.

cI C Houcl BY J ft/m A TTORNEYS.

Sept. 13, 1932. J. c. HoucK ADVERTISING DEVICE Filed May 26, 1932 5 'Sheets-Shee 5 INVENTOR.' d. C Joucl Bref/fwn# A TTORNEYS.

' sponding parts,

Patented Sept. 13, 1h32 y UNiTEoSTA-'rs' JOSEPH c, Houck, or LosiiivcrnLes,ciinironiqin c i Y 'Y I Anvnii'iisiivey niivicn Application IedMay 2'6, 1932.' Serial' No.`-613,717`.

This invention relates to improvements inan advertising device of that type in which a series of display cards areliinged at an edge to a carrier rotatably mounted in a casing provided with a display opening, a motor being provided for rotating the carrier so that the cards are successively displayed through theopening in the casing. Such devices are placed in storewindows and other places for f public observation, such as passenger vehicles.A When mounted in motor busses, economy of space in the installation and operating of the4 device is a main requirement. To meet this requirement, the sizeof the equipment is curtailed to such an extent that the simultaneous display of two cards is necessary to provide suilicient space for a single advertisement. As the carrier is rotated, two cards, in edgeto-edge relation and with complementary advertising matter ldisplayed thereon, are moi One of the objects of the instant invention is to provide means for preventingthe rub.- bing together of the cards andthereby avoiding the wear and tear that would result from 4 the cards rubbing together. In one way this' .1 Y

clutch'member attached. to the shaft for ro-g is accomplished by mounting each cardfin the lface of a metallic frame and hinging the frame in the carrier so that the metallic backs of the framesare held in sliding contact while the faces of the frames holding the cards are held apart so that the cards cannot rub together. The means for carrying out this and other objects is described in detail hereinafter, pointed outin the appended claims and illustrated by the accompanying drawings. l

YIn the accompanying drawings, in Vwhich similar reference characters `designate corre- Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of an advertising device embodying the invention, the display cards being omitted.

view, showing'the gearing for transmitting the slip-clutch. I I i H Figure 9. is an end ViewV of the same. f l.

`FigurerQ is an endview of the casing,V showing in section the gearing ,for rotating Y the card-carrier.

'l Figure 3 is a ,front elevation of` thevdevice with the display'cards partlybroken away. 55"v Figure 41 is an end elevation, partly broken l away, showing the motoran-d its connection, for Vdriving'the'card-carrier; I Figure 5 is an enlarged detail sectionalA the driveofthe motor to the shaftof thecardcarrier.j. Y j vj .A g i K Figure 6 is a similar view at right-angles l to that'shown in Fig. 5. n n Figure 7 "s an enlarged detaill 'sectional view, Vshowinglthe slip-clutch connecting the V gear driven by the motor with the' en dof the shafty carrying the cord-carrier.` i Y, 1 Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view of Figure 10 is an enlarged detail viewshow- K, mg one of the hubsV in which is journaled Y an endV of the shaft of the card-carrier.

Figure 11is an enlarged detail view, partly in section and broken away in parts, showf. ing the mounting ofthe card-frames in the carrier. Y V` Figure 12 is an enlargeddetail view, showing the link connection between one of the rods to which the card-frame is hinged and the supporting ring:

Figure 13is a detail View showing the 'Figure 14 isa detail'view, showing apart `ofone of the casing, heads and the guide-way for thetransparent cover for A y closing the ldisplay openingof the casing.

Referring to the drawings 1n` detail, more 90" particularly to Figs. 1 4, 11 designates kthe casing in `which are mounted the carrier for v the display cards and themechanisml for ro-I tating the carrier. This casingv is generally l semi-cylindrical with its ends closed :by the sides or headsl secured in the cylindricalf ends. Legs 13 are provided for supporting' i the easingv on a plane surface, 'as in a store window. For mounting the casing in the forward part of a busi, suitablebrackets y(not shown) may be provided for the purpose. In the vfront of the casingvis an opening 14e (Fig. 3) for the display of the advertising cards carried by the carrier mountedetherein.

Y Extending along the casing at the lower edge v of the display is the elongated hood 15 formed in the cylindrical wall of the container. In this hoodf are mounted electriclight bulbs 16 (Fig. 4)' to illuminate the"cards'appearing atthe display opening.

lo Slidable over thedi'splayopening is'f-afcover,

or shield 17 of transparent flexiblematerial,

such as celophane. This shield lits betweenthe sides 12 off the casing and its side edges l5 travel in grooves 18 formedbetween the-cylin drical wall of the casing and the angle strips 19secu1ed'to the; sides 12. 'Ihe lower part'of.Y the shield isclam'ped between the bars-2O,"the`v ends of which slide in the opposite grooves 2@ 18. rIhelower edge part 21of the shieldfexe Means,y hereinafter described; is providedfor.- rotating the. shaftin vthebearinghubs. In .the 3m inner face of each of thehubs 23'is a groove- 25 (Figs. 10-11)` approximately concentric withthe axis ofthe shaft -22. Adjacentithe front.: edge off each hub; asat- 26; `the groove is widened and iiares outwardly to communi# 40f cate with.. th-e hori zontal. slot27 leading ythrough the. front partof lthehub;k ExtendingY between ythe two hubs are the. wire rods -.28 -with their 'ends slidable in the opposite grooves 2.5.v These :rods are. placedinthe f 5. grooves by passingj their lends throu'ghftlieI horizontalslots 27lead1ng into the grooves..

Displaceable Cotter pins 29 passing through the frontrparts of the hubsprevent-th-eescape ofthe rods .through thev slots 27..,duringthe ooperation of the machine. y f

vThe rods 28 are held in parallel spaced-rela#- tion yto each other and to the shaft 221by. the rotatableffollowers 30 (Figs.A 1 and 11) coacting with the groovesY 25 guiding the: ends of:V wethefrods; rI`hese followers are circular and are, cioncentrically fixed on the opposite ends ,Y

ofthe y shaft`22 adj acenttothe hubs23... Each follower-,hasLat its circumferential parta seriesfofradial spokes31interspaced with ase=V 60;v riesfof slots 32. of uniform length and idepth.

4 Thespokes extendv across-thegroove 25 at.` any-part ofthelatterand the ends of the rods,` 28- riding .in the. slots 3 2A yare -held Vin .spacedrelation-astheyV `travel.aroundthe groovedur Giftingl the-,rotation of. the l followerv turned tampering; with the cards is pre-` the shaft 22. lWhen the rods reach the flared part 26 of the groove'they have considerable lplay therein, to facilitate their withdrawal thro-ugh the slot 27 when the Cotter pin 29 is withdrawn from the hub. At the extremity Y vof each of the spokes 31 is the beveled spur 33, the purpose kof which will `beexplained later on. f 1 il On each of the"`rods 28 are hinged 'two frames,'34 and 35, on which are vdisplaceably mounted; theadisplayii cards. These frames are formed of thin sheet metal, preferably of brassyfwhich. will not rust when'subjected to moist atmospheric conditions. Circular openings 36farefforined*'ineach frame to lessen its f Weight. At Aitsouter edge7 each f rameis folded'lover, as at .37, to form" astre n gthening` l rib and alsoto forni a flange Vto engagefthe outerv edge of theV display cardlipl'acedon the` frame. To the ends' of'th'efrarne 314reinforcf ingstrips 38 are weld'edvv AEach",oftheframes is ,hinged `to Vits respect-ive ro'd28 by thelugsg 7 39`projeeting from "its inner Vedge and bent',

over` the rod.V 'l These'lngsform rclips togen:- gageA the inner" edge. ofthe display card mounted on theframethefoute'r edge of 1.tliecard being engaged by the flange 375 at' the outer edge kof 'the frame.

As theframes `are movedaround Vthe rotation offth'e followers 3.0 propellingl therodsJ 2 8 alongthe grooves 25, the' relative positionsfl oftheframes are constantly shiftingandth-i'sf results in a rubbing togetherof the Contacting' surfaces. Ifthef'display cards carried .by the f frames and interposed between the. same should"`be subjected to, this rubbingaction;

they wouldf'soon be worn out and requirejre-.Jj placement. Means are provided ltoprevent rubbingAconta-ctffof'thecardsandjat the same timepermit a rubbing contact ofthe frameist.

vwhich .wouldfnot injure theA cards.. This; is.'

,'accomplished.byarrangingthe frame'sfin .conf

nectedpairs with the -membersof each pairv coupled together Vwith their ,backs in sliding contactandproviding means for holding eachv pair-out ofcontactwith' the contiguous pairs. 1

40n A the outer faces ofthe members` of' Aeach pairV the display. cardsfarefmountedg while the l inner faces-or backs oft-he. memberscontact f vandrub,together.duringtlie travel of v the pair., l Th'ecards so carrieddo not contactwithanyf.

rubbing part-andthe slidingcontact, between the blacks of theffr'ames of each paiiypermit the relative'shifting-of the frames incident to .4, 11295 Each pair.oflcoupledframes comp-rises ythe their .travel` l memberl 34 vliingedto.- oneiof the :rods 28: and the. member 3.5 hingednto an'adjacent rod 28.,` f

At eachl endofthe frame 34 a lugO projects" from the reinforcing stripj38 andis 'bentfover the adjacent endort-heette@ 3.5., .theme bei-1a over lugs forming hooks coupling the two. framestogether. 1T-he,eng-agement`A of the `Y hooks withthe frame 35 is.a.loose 'connectioriff` 1 permitting a. relative slidingy movement befy means; nected by the belt 62 with theshaft` jour# naledin` the wall of the auxiliary. casing 47,

On the inner end ofthe shaft 63 Iis x'edfthe worm 64 meshing with the worm-wheel" 6 5,` fast' on the shaft 66 journaled in theibearing, 67k projecting from theinner. wall of the aux,

Fixed on the shaft 66 is thel iliary casing. l worm 68 meshing; withthe worm.wheel- 49.,

l-`previously. described. .By means of the Viin-.- tervening gearing the comparatively fast" drive of the motor shaftcan Vbe stepped'downA tothe slow rotation requiredofthe shaft 22.1.V Most of the gearingis contained in theauxil.;l fiary casing, which isclosed so that it` can be filled with a lubricant.

Preparatory to the operationofl the ma-V chine, a displaycard 69 (Fig) is mounted. on the outer face of each of the metalframes 34e and'35, byshovingone of thelongitudinal' grooves, the forward frame 34e falls to av pendent position and the frame 35 is heldin upright position, so that momentarily the two frames are heldin a lvertical plane, so that the advertising cards mounted on their front facesfare eXposed throughthe' display of the casing, as shown in Fig. 3L

by the rod X is coupled .to the frame 35 car`- ried by the preceding rod Z by thehoolr-lugsf 4:0. TWhen the rod X approachesits extreme forward travel in the grooves 25 -`with both the frames carried by itin an upright position, the preceding rodZ moves downward' and to the rear so that the frame 35 carried by it falls and carries` with it the frame 34 hinged to the rod X. At the same time the frame 35 carried by the rod X is momentarily held upright by its engagement with the hook-lugs 40 on the frame 34 carri'edby the succeeding rod Y.' In this waythe framesv` ofeach rod28. are successively positioned to expose the cards carried by themthroughthe display opening in the front ofthe casing.

To remove any one of the rods 28, the ma chine isstopp'ed and the shaft 22 isturned"4 by the crank 70 inserted inthe end of the shaft farther from the motor (Figs. l and 3)", until the rod X, for an instance, isoppositethe Aslots 27 inthe hubs23 (Fig. 11). Then the frames 34 and `35 are respectively"released4 from the vframe carried by the rod Z and the frametcarriedby the rod Yby bendingl The shaft 6l ofthe motor is con-- rlhe followers 30 rotated by the shaft' previously described, the frame 34 carried' refr-mee."

the hook-lugs 405 The Cotter-pins 29am-ire;- moved andthe rod-X is-movedthrough'ithef slots 27V to displace thesame andthe'lframes lfacilitatedl by the groove 7l inone of?` thel heads 12 of the casing (Figs. 2 and'll). After" carriedV by it. vThe removal of' the =rodE the rod is removed the Cotter pinsare replaced?" fV to prevent the other rods fromenteringthe slots. f

What Iclaim isz 1. In a displaydevice, theicombination-ofi a casing having a display opening,'wth ai 'shaftjournaled inthe casing oppositeftothe display opening, means for-rotating the shaft;-` hubs secured in the ,casing having opposite guide-grooves approximately concentric with.. the shaft, rods'extending parallelto the shaft with their endsregistering with the4 gu'ide-V grooves,followers-xedon thefshaft'engaging, A

the rods to hold thelatter inlspacedirelation and to propel the same around the? guidegrooves, and card-holding frames hinged on sie thel rods to be displayedin the casing 'openingf'y l as the rods travel around the guide-grooves:

2.1Ina display device, thefcombinati'onof la .casing having a""disp`lay" opening, a shaftjournaled in the casing display opening, means for rotating the shaft, hubs secured in .the casing having opposite guide-grooves approximatelyconcentric with 7 oppositefto "thee" the shaft, rods extending'parall'el tothe shaft with their ends registering with the"guide grooves, followers lixedlon the shaft having radial slots engaging the rods to holdtheda-tter in spacedrelation in the guide grooves, the' rotation of the followers by the shaft operf' ating to propel the rods around/theguidelgrooves, and cardbholding fra-meshinged C on the rodsto bedisplayed in the casing openingI las the rods travel around the guide-groov`es. 3.- In a1 display device, the combination of a casing'having adisplay opening, with a'= display opening,means'for rotating thel shaft,' hubs secured in theV casing havingoppositef shaft j ournaled inthe casing opposite to the" 1rdi grooves approximately'concentric with the*l shaft, rods extending parallelto-the shaft" with their endsregistering with the guide#- Vgrooves, followers iX'edon theshaftf" having# radialispokes interspaced with slots engaging the rods to hold the' latter in spaced relation, `the rotation of the followersV by the, shaftf operating to propel the rods faround the guide-grooves, cardy frames-hinged onthe rods to be displayedfin the casingfas-the'rod'stravel aroundthe yguide-gmoves, and-lugson1 theframes to be engaged'fby the. spokes of" nie' mirl

the wheels lto separatethef frames asthey 'i travel toward the display opening ofthe casing. Y 4; ln. a displayl device, the coinbinationof a casing having a display opening, :with a y shaftjournalled in the casing opposite tothe display opening, a' motor `for rotating1V thev shaft, hubs secured in the casing having op ontheprodsv28.` If no means was provided tOPleVent it, in theirfupward and forward l'lrnovennent the pairs of frames would fall to-v getherand clogthe operation of the machine. T o avoid this, means are provided for lifting the individualpairs of frames` as they move upwardlyand forwardly7 in the upper part of y. 2Qthe casing.Y The means employed for this purpose comprises the bevelled spursY 33 on the extremities of the spokes 31 of the followers 30, and the lugs 42 projecting from the reinforcing strips 38 at the opposite ends of 2Cthe cardframes 34. As the card frames revolve around the jaxis of the machine, as indi.-

' cated bythe arrow 41, Fig. 11, in passing p ,the rear, as at a, `the cardframes vertically, and there is no tendency of the'v 3(iframes to crowd eachotherto clog the operation of the machine; but when the frames start to move upwards, as at b, they tend to fall together and interfere with the operation ofthe machine. Vheu the frames start to V855".;.I1f1oveupwardly,as at b, the spurs 33 of the. followers .engage the lugs 42 and lift the frames so that they cannot fall together. As the vframes move upward and forward they are separated'by the continued engagement of @the spurs with thelugs. Y

Itis to be observed that only the frames 34 are provided with lugs 42 to engage the spurs V38,v and that the frames 35 do not have such lugs. k However, each of the frames 35-is cou.- 455'pled to one of the frames 34 by the hook-lugs 40, as previously explained, so that the control of the frame 34 also controls thecoupled frame 35. Y Consequently, Veach pair of coupled frames 34-35 constitutes avunit and it is fiitlie .units so constituted that are held in spaced relation in their upward and forward move-v ment to prevent crowding.

Loosely mounted-on the shaft 22, at an intermediate part thereof, is the ring 43 (Figs. 5&1, V11 and 12) split transversely at 44 so that thering can ybe opened. Loosely carried by the ring is a series of links 45, each of which 'engages one of the rods 28 at the intermediate point'of the latter. Thelink connection begtween the rod and ring prevents the rod` from bowing, due to the thrust or pull of the frame carried bythe rod. Also, as the rod travels around the grooves 25of the hubs 23, the" link-'connection prevents the ends of the rodi 'frorn catchingin theinner ends of the slots `on lthe casing of the machinev by any suitable The slot 46 in the link, through which passes the ring 43, is of -sufcient length to permit the required play ofthe ends V`of `rthe rod in the grooves25, landV also to fay cilitate'the detachment of the link from `the. yrinfr whenthe rod'is removed from the hubs to displace the frames carriedb-y the rod.

Mechanism is provided forslowly rotatingV j the shaft 22 for revolving the frames carrying thedisplay cards. At one end this shaft extends through the `intervening head 12 into lthe auxiliary casing .47., (Figs. 1 and 7)', and

axially alinedwith this. vshaft is the studshaft 48 projecting from the opposite wall of the auxiliary casing. y p j ournaled the spokedworm-wheel 49. A fle:;- ible clutch or coupling is provided for transmitting the. drive of the worm-wheel to the shaft V22. This couplingA comprises a cylin- (Fig. 8) to engage the spokes of the worm- '.or passages27 leading through the front parts 1 of thehubs.

Onk this stud-shaft is kdrical sleeve 50 having a series of recesses 51 .wheel49.. Within the other end of the sleeve I are two spiral springs 52, wound in opposite directions and having frictional contact with the sleeve.v These springs are held in .place by the lugs 53 projecting inwardly kfrom the wall ofthe sleeve. The innerv ends 54of the springs are hooked into the ends of the Vtubular rod 55 extending diametrically racross thev sleeve. In the ,coupled relation of thefparts, thev tubular rod 55 engages the slot 56 (Figs.

8, 9 and 13) extending dianietrically across thecoupling head fixed on the end of the shaft 22 bythe pin 58 passing through the hub of the head andthe end of theshaft."

When the worm-wheel 49 is turned to ro' tate the sleeve 50 in the direction of the arrow 59 (Fig. 9) e, the sleeve tends to turn the spiral springs rwith it through'the frictional contact.

the sleeve so-that the drive of the worme-gear is transmitted to rotate the shaft 22. V'When the machine isat rest, the shaft 22 can be rotated by hand in the same direction, as indicated by the arrow 59 (Fig. 9) by revolving the tubular bar 55 to wind the springs to contract the same and thereby loosen the fric-V tional engagement between the sleeve and.

the springs. As the-sleeve is held stationary. by its engagement with the worm-wheel 49, the contracted springsv will slip aroundv the sleeve so` that the shaft can be turned by the crank 7 0 displaceable in one end of the shaft. l

1nthe operation of-'the device, the worrn-Y wheel 49 is driven'by the electric motor 60, supplied with current from any suitable source of supply, not shown. Y The electric motor is of standard make and vis mountedV las posite guide-grooves approximately concentric with the shaft, rods extending parallel to the shaft with their ends registering with the guide-grooves, said hubs having passages leading from the guide-grooves to--permit the withdrawal of the rods from the guide grooves, followers fixed on the shaft having radial slots engaging the rods to hold the latter in spaced relation in the guide-grooves, the rotation of the followers by the shaft operating to propel the rods around theV guidegrooves, card-holding frames hinged on the rods to be displayed in the casing opening as the rods travel around the guide-grooves, manually operated means for turning the shaft to register a rod with the passages leading from the guide-grooves to permit the withdrawal of the rod and the frames carried by it from the guide-grooves, and displaceable means for closing the passages while the rods are propelled by the followers when the shaft is rotated by the motor.

5. In a display device, the combination of a casing having a display opening, with a shaft journaled in the casing, a motor for rotating the. shaft, a slip-clutch interposed in the driving connection between the motor and the shaft to permit the rotation of the shaft independently of the motor, hubs secured in the casing having guide grooves approximately concentric with the shaft, rods extending parallel to the shaft with their ends registering with the guide grooves, said hubs having passages leading from the grooves to permit the withdrawal of the rods from the grooves, followers fixed on the shaftvhaving radial slots engaging the rods to hold the latter in spaced relation in the grooves, the rotation of the followers by the shaft operating to propel the rods around the guide grooves, card-holding frames hinged on the rods to be displayed through the casing opening as the rods travel around the guide-grooves, and manually operated means for turning the shaft to register a rod with the passages in thehubs leading from the guide-grooves tov permit the withdrawal of the rod from `the each pair having a sliding engagement with the opposite frame of the adjacent pair so. that the frames of each pair are held apart to prevent rubbing contact of ,their` opposite faces during the travel, and display cards mounted on the opposite v frames of each pair to be frames turn to complementary vertical position in passing the casing opening.

" 7. In a display' device, the combination of a casing havinga'display opening, with hubs fixed to opposite-sides ofthe casing, a shaft journaledin the hubs, means for rotating the shaft, said hubs havingl guide-grooves approximately concentric with the shaft,rods

extending `parallel to the shaft with their Vshown through thecasing opening as the ends registering with the guide grooves, followers fixed on the shaft and engaging the rods to propel said rods around Athe guidegrooves -in spaced relation as the shaft rotates, a pair of frames hinged on each rod to turn by gravity as the frames are carried by a driving shaft, with followers fixed on the' ends of the shaft, a series of rods extending parallel with the shaft and engaged at their ends by the followers, aring loosely encircling the intermediate part of the shaft, and links connecting the individual rodswith theV ring.

In testimony whereof I aii'ix my signature.

' JOSEPH C.v I-IOUGK.

guide-grooves to displace the frames carried by the rod, said slip-clutch permitting the turning of the shaft independently of the g motor.

6. In a display device, the combination of a casing having a display opening, with hubs fixed to opposite sides of the casing, a shaft vrods to propel said rods around the guidegrooves in spaced relation as the shaft rotates, a pair of frames hinged on each rod to turn by gravity as the frames are carried by the rod past the casing opening, each frame of 

